Barisal, Khulna power projects get Ecnec nod

The government will expand power supply in rural areas in Khulna and Barisal divisions as it approved two separate projects Tuesday to be implemented at a cost of Tk 18.34 billion, officials said.
Presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the projects.
The ECNEC also endorsed seven other development projects at its meeting, held at the Planning Commission in Dhaka, at a total cost of Tk 60.66 billion.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said under the "Rural electricity expansion at Barisal Division project-2" and the "Rural electricity expansion at Khulna Division project-2", the Rural Electrification Board (REB) will connect 0.45 million consumers in 11 districts.
The REB will install 10,700 kilometres of new electricity distribution lines, and rehabilitate 1,300km existing lines, he added.
The ECNEC meeting also approved a new development project for strengthening safety and security systems in the Bangladesh's four airports at a cost of Tk 2.93 billion, and revised an ongoing project for upgradation of the Hazart Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at a cost of Tk 5.63 billion.
The meeting also revised the Dhaka water supply and sanitation project at Tk 6.44 billion, small bridges and culverts building under rural roads project (3rd phase) at Tk 10.85 billion, the New Dakatia and old Dkatia small Feni River water sewerage project at Tk 2.81 billion, school feeding programme in poverty-prone areas at Tk 31.46 billion.
The ECNEC approved another new project expansion of the Jamalganj-Madarganj road-- at a cost of Tk 543 million.
AHM Mustafa Kamal said all the nine projects would require Tk 79 billion, where Tk 22.79 billion will come from the development partners as the project aid and the rest amount from domestic resources.
ECNEC members and cabinet ministers, high officials of the Planning Commission and related ministries were present at the meeting.
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